The effect of maternal intravenous glucose administration on fetal activity.

Abstract

The study was designed to objectively evaluate the effect of maternal intravenous glucose infusion on fetal activity. Twenty-one volunteers at 30.7 +/- 3.0 weeks' gestation were objectively evaluated for fetal activity with a Doppler monitor before and during an intravenous glucose test. Baseline fetal activity monitoring began 10 minutes before a fasting blood glucose level was obtained. A standard 1-hour intravenous glucose tolerance test was then performed, and fetal activity monitoring was continued for the duration of the test. Twenty-one women at 29.8 +/- 3.0 weeks' gestation volunteered to serve as controls and were continuously monitored for fetal activity. The control patients did not receive intravenous glucose. Linear regression analysis revealed an increase in fetal activity in both groups; however, the increase in the glucose infusion group was significantly greater than in the control group. Maternal glucose infusion causes short-term stimulation of fetal activity; however, some other factor in the monitoring process also stimulates fetal activity.